Reference device



21, 1939. w WALMSLEY 2,148,092

REFERENCE DEVICE Filed March 3, 1937 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

My invention relates to reference devices for use in baking, confectionery and like establishments, and more particularly to means for mounting the same. The devices I have in mind are in the form of cylinders which are vertically positioned and bear on their peripheries wrappers or sheets on which the reference material or data is inscribed, and my main object is to provide an installation for a cylinder of this kind which not only supports the cylinder for rotation, but also enables the same to be readily removed in case the reference sheet is to be altered or replaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking support for the reference cylinder, whereby the latter may be retained in place as long as it is turned in one direction, but can be disengaged by turning the same in the opposite direction.

Another object of the invention is to so constitute the locking support above referred to as to permit a considerable degree of leeway for the cylinder when rotated in the disengaging direction before the lock opens, for purposes to be explained hereinafter.

An additional object of the invention is to equip the locking support for the cylinder with an element which automatically ejects the cylinder from the retaining zone the moment it becomes unlocked.

An important object of the invention is to design the novel reference device along lines of simplicity, mechanical efficiency and economy of production.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is an elevation of a reference device as installed in a portion of a wall cabinet, the device being shown in the retained position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the cylinder disengaged and projected for removal;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the cylinder approaching the unlocking position; and

Fig. 5 is another similar view, showing the cylinder in the unlocking position.

In providing a reference device of cylindrical shape, my intention has been to combine compactness with extensive room for reference data. It is therefore apparent that a vertical cylinder of relatively small diameter can be both compact so as to enable a series of cylinders to be stored side by side in a small cabinet and also may accommodate on its periphery a sheet of considerable length. Thus, a variety of data on sub jects pertaining to the individual cylinders may 5 be stored in the cabinet. At the same time, the cylinders may be individually rotated to display any part of each data sheet through windows (not shown) in the front of the cabinet.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific ref- 10 erence to the drawing indicates a corner of the cabinet mentioned at It, and it is seen that the same has a. bottom Ida, a lower shelf lflb and an upper shelf Ice. The cylinder is indicated at H, its wrapper or data sheet at 52, and a knob 15 projecting from the bottom at 3 for the handling and rotation of the cylinder. The cylinder H is inserted into the cabinet by Way of a circular opening ltd in the bottom thereof, and rises between guides lfif to meet the shelf with 20 a. neck portion I Ix.

The shelf [Eb is made with an opening Hie co-axial with the opening lfid below, and adapted to receive a reduced portion Ha, forming the upper end of the cylinder. The said reduced portion receives a cross-bar M on top, the same being centrally secured to the cylinder by a screw l5, and kept from rotation by a pair of cylinder mountings I 46!. The cross-bar extends beyond the periphery of the portion Ha in both directions, and in order for its extensions to pass to a point above the partition It when the cylinder is raised the partition is formed with a pair of slots 40 extending from the opening Hie diametrically.

The cross-bar I4 is surmounted by a circular plate l6 which is centrally apertured to be secured by the screw H3 in a relation to be freely rotatable over the cross-bar. The plate i6 is extended in opposite directions from the center to provide a pair of radial lugs ll having upwardly turned ends 4|. The shelf Inc has a depending pin [8g axially of the cylinder and serving to center a spiral compression spring IS. The I bottom turn of this spring bears at opposite sides on the upwardly turned ends 4| of the lugs 11, seating in the corners thereof.

It is seen that by the connection of the plate IS with the cross-bar [4 the lugs I! are caused to support the cylinder from the shelf Hlb, since the lugs rest on the same. It follows, therefore, that the rotation of the plate l6 to bring the lugs in registration with the slots 40 and the cross-bar M will cause the spring to push the lugs down through the slots and eject the cylinder from the shelf.

The plate [6 is formed on opposite sides with radial enlargements l9 forming stops 19a for a pair of pins Mb rising from the cross-bar l4 along the periphery of the plate when the cylinder is rotated to the rightas seen from the front or as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The opposite ends of the enlargements l9 form stops H91) in the same manner when the cylinder is rotated in the reverse direction. However, the stops I91) function only when the pins have advanced to the center line of the lugs ll. As the pins are positioned medially on the cross-bar M, the above position of the stops 1% renders the cross-bar It in registration with or directly under the lugs i! when the pins meet the stops. By means of the above construction, it is seen that as long as the cylinder is rotated in the direction of the arrow referred to, the cross-bar M will be in the zone of the stops Ida and therefore approximately ninety degrees away from the lugs ll; Thus, either the cross-bar or the lugs will form a support for the cylinder upon the shelf liib, so that the rotation of the cylinder in the assumed direction will not subject it to ejection by way of the slots it Fig. 3 shows the parts in the position described.

If it is desired to remove the cylinder, it is only necessary to rotate it to the left-as seen from the frontor in the opposite direction from that previously taken. Such a movement is indicated in Fig. 4 and it is seen that while the lugs l i may be positioned directly over the slots Iii the crossbar M is approaching a position to register with or become eclipsed by the lugs, releasing the cyl inder to the ejecting action of the spring IS. The parts are positioned in this action as indicated in Fig. 5.

It will be evident that the free travel of the cross-bar through a course of approximately ninety degrees before it engages the lugs l! for rotation is not necessary for the simple purpose of alining these elements for the ejecting function. It would suffice if the cross-bar only departed to a position adjoining the lugs, whereby to insure the support of the cylinder either by the cross-bar or the lugs at all times that these parts are at variance, as during the first-mentioned direction of rotation. However, I provide the extended leeway for the cross-bar in order that the cylinder may have a liberal latitude of reverse rotation before it is automatically ejected. This circumstance is based on the probable operation of the cylinder when reference is made to its data. Thus, when looking for material arranged in columns of the cylinder chart, one would ordinarily follow the instruction to turn the cylinder to the right until the desired data is located. However, it is possible that one may turn the cylinder some distance farther and intuitively reverse it to bring the data into position. The leeway previously referred to allows for this movement without risking the ejection of the cylinder, and thus provides a safety factor against error of judgment. Yet, the leeway is not so extensive as to require unusual effort or delay when the cylinder is to be removed, as a twist of the knob it in the reverse direction will quickly obtain the result.

It will be evident that the novel installation for a cylinder of the type under consideration is a unique and efficient mechanism. It enables the cylinder to be inserted, turned for reference, or removed from the cabinet with one hand, making it very convenient when the cabinet is positioned on a wall or in a high place. The opening in the bottom of the cabinet makes it easy to insert the cylinder without the need of opening a door or otherwise setting the cylinder in place. Since the removal of the cylinder always leaves the crossbar id and lugs I! in co-incident position, these are together when the cylinder is re-inserted to pass through the slots [0 and meet the spring l8. Now, the cylinder is urged upwardly to compress the spring to the extent of raising the cross-bar l4 over the shelf Hie, a twist to the right then serving to seat the same upon the shelf. The mechanism is of a positive and dependable nature, and no delicate parts are had which may get out of order or make it difficult to operate the cylinder. The spring I8 is relatively large and serves as a pressure device to firmly retain the cylinder to the shelf lfle, lend it some friction in operation in order to avoid looseness or movement when not under control, and quickly eject it when it is to be removed, re-' quiring no exertion by the operator for this purpose. Finally, it will be apparent that the assembly is of a nature to be economically produced and readily adapted to various other requirements or situations.

I claim:

1. A device to suspend a member from a shelf having a circular opening and diametrical extensions thereof, comprising a crossbar fixed upon the member and with its end portions overlying the shelf diametrically above said opening, a second crossbar rotatably centered over the first one and also extending over the opening and with its end portions overlying the shelf, and means operative by the horizontal rotation of the first crossbar in a given directionto draw the second crossbar around a distance behind the first one, whereby to always maintain the end portions of one crossbar on the shelf when those of the other bar register with the opening extensions.

2. The structure of claim 1, the second named crossbar having its central portion enlarged as a plate defining arcuate recesses, and pins projecting from the first crossbar into said recesses and operative against the ends thereof.

3. The structure of claim 1, the second crossbar having its central portion enlarged as a plate defining arcuate recesses one of whose ends extends approximately to the center line of the second crossbar, and pins projecting from the first crossbar into said recesses and operative against the ends thereof, the entry of the pins into the extended portions of the latter by the rotation of the member in a direction opposite to the given one serving to aline the crossbars for joint registration with said opening extensions. a

4. Means for attaching an article to a support, comprising a base plate formed to provide a round opening therethrough, said opening having radial extensions, cylindrical means on said article adapted to extend through said opening, radial projections on said cylindrical means, a radially extending projecting member rotatably mounted on said cylindrical means, and cooperating means associated with said cylindrical means and said rotatable means, said cooperating means being operative to align said rotatable member and said projections with each other upon the rotation of said article in one direction to permit the passage of the twain through said extensions of said opening, said last named means upon rotation of said article in the opposite direction being operative to move said rotatable member out of alignment with said projections to prevent the passage of the twain through said opening extensions;

5. Means for attaching an article to a support, comprising a base plate formed to provide a round opening therethrough, said opening having radial extensions, cylindrical means on said article adapted to extend through said opening, radial projections on said cylindrical means, a radially extending projecting member rotatably mounted on said cylindrical means, and means carried by said cylindrical means and engaging said rotatable member upon the rotation of said article in one direction a predetermined distance to align said member and said projections with each other to permit the passage of the twain through said extensions of said opening, said last named means engaging said rotatable member upon rotation of said article in the opposite direction and being operative to move said rotatable member out of alignment with said projections to prevent the passage of the twain through said opening extensions.

6. The structure of claim 4, and means engaging said rotatable member and retarding the rotation thereof until the same is aligned with said projections.

'7. The structure of claim 4, and means engaging said rotatable member and retarding the rotation thereof until the same is aligned with said projections, said retarding means comprising means for ejecting said article from said support upon the alignment of said aligned rotatable member and said projections with said extensions of said opening.

WILLIAM WALMSLEY. 

